03.010
Pancharatra: Vyasa justifies his concern for Pandavas by narrating a story of Surabhi.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
भगवन्नाहमप्येतद्रोचये द्यूतसंस्तवम्। मन्ये तद्विधिनाक्रम्य कारितोऽस्मीति वै मुने ॥३-१०-१॥
O Lord, I do not approve of this praise of gambling. I think that, by fate, I have been made to act against the proper way, O sage. (3-10-1)
नैतद्रोचयते भीष्मो न द्रोणो विदुरो न च। गान्धारी नेच्छति द्यूतं तच्च मोहात्प्रवर्तितम् ॥३-१०-२॥
Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura approves of this; Gandhari does not desire the dice-game, and it was initiated out of delusion. (3-10-2)
परित्यक्तुं न शक्नोमि दुर्योधनमचेतनम्। पुत्रस्नेहेन भगवञ्जानन्नपि यतव्रत ॥३-१०-३॥
O Lord, even though I know, due to my affection for my son, I am not able to completely abandon the unconscious Duryodhana, O steadfast one in vows. (3-10-3)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
वैचित्रवीर्य नृपते सत्यमाह यथा भवान्। दृढं वेद्मि परं पुत्रं परं पुत्रान्न विद्यते ॥३-१०-४॥
Vichitravirya, the king, spoke the truth: "O king, as you say, I am certain that there is no one greater than a son." (3-10-4)
इन्द्रोऽप्यश्रुनिपातेन सुरभ्या प्रतिबोधितः। अन्यैः समृद्धैरप्यर्थैर्न सुताद्विद्यते परम् ॥३-१०-५॥
Even Indra was awakened by Surabhi through her falling tears. There is nothing greater than a son, not even by other abundant riches. (3-10-5)
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि महदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। सुरभ्याश्चैव संवादमिन्द्रस्य च विशां पते ॥३-१०-६॥
Here I will tell you a great and excellent story, namely the conversation between Surabhi and Indra, O lord of the people. (3-10-6)
त्रिविष्टपगता राजन्सुरभिः प्रारुदत्किल। गवां मात पुरा तात तामिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत ॥३-१०-७॥
O king, once upon a time, Surabhi, the mother of cows, went to heaven and wept aloud; Indra felt compassion for her. (3-10-7)
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
किमिदं रोदिषि शुभे कच्चित्क्षेमं दिवौकसाम्। मानुषेष्वथ वा गोषु नैतदल्पं भविष्यति ॥३-१०-८॥
"What is this, O auspicious one, that you are weeping about? Is everything well with the dwellers of heaven, among men, or among cows? Surely, this will not be a small matter." (3-10-8)
सुरभिरुवाच॥
Surabhi said.
विनिपातो न वः कश्चिद्दृश्यते त्रिदशाधिप। अहं तु पुत्रं शोचामि तेन रोदिमि कौशिक ॥३-१०-९॥
O lord of the gods, no one among you is seen to fall; but I grieve for my son, and for that reason I weep, O Kauśika. (3-10-9)
पश्यैनं कर्षकं रौद्रं दुर्बलं मम पुत्रकम्। प्रतोदेनाभिनिघ्नन्तं लाङ्गलेन निपीडितम् ॥३-१०-१०॥
Look at this ploughman, fierce yet weak, my little son, being struck with a goad and oppressed by the plough. (3-10-10)
एतं दृष्ट्वा भृशं श्रन्तं वध्यमानं सुराधिप। कृपाविष्टास्मि देवेन्द्र मनश्चोद्विजते मम ॥३-१०-११॥
O Indra, seeing this one so utterly exhausted and being slain, I am overcome with compassion, and my mind is deeply disturbed. (3-10-11)
एकस्तत्र बलोपेतो धुरमुद्वहतेऽधिकाम्। अपरोऽल्पबलप्राणः कृशो धमनिसन्ततः ॥ कृच्छ्रादुद्वहते भारं तं वै शोचामि वासव ॥३-१०-१२॥
There, one who is strong bears a heavier yoke, while another, weak and frail, with veins showing, struggles to carry the burden; O Indra, it is for him that I feel sorrow. (3-10-12)
वध्यमानः प्रतोदेन तुद्यमानः पुनः पुनः। नैव शक्नोति तं भारमुद्वोढुं पश्य वासव ॥३-१०-१३॥
See, O Indra, though he is beaten with a goad and struck repeatedly, he is still unable to lift that burden. (3-10-13)
ततोऽहं तस्य दुःखार्ता विरौमि भृशदुःखिता। अश्रूण्यावर्तयन्ती च नेत्राभ्यां करुणायती ॥३-१०-१४॥
Then, overwhelmed by his sorrow and deeply distressed, I cried out, tears rolling from both my eyes as I wept with compassion. (3-10-14)
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
तव पुत्रसहस्रेषु पीड्यमानेषु शोभने। किं कृपायितमस्त्यत्र पुत्र एकोऽत्र पीड्यते ॥३-१०-१५॥
O beautiful one, among your thousands of sons being afflicted, what compassion is there here? Here, only one son is afflicted. (3-10-15)
सुरभिरुवाच॥
Surabhi said.
यदि पुत्रसहस्रं मे सर्वत्र सममेव मे। दीनस्य तु सतः शक्र पुत्रस्याभ्यधिका कृपा ॥३-१०-१६॥
Even if I had a thousand sons everywhere, O Śakra, my compassion for the one afflicted son would be greater. (3-10-16)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
तदिन्द्रः सुरभीवाक्यं निशम्य भृशविस्मितः। जीवितेनापि कौरव्य मेनेऽभ्यधिकमात्मजम् ॥३-१०-१७॥
Then Indra, upon hearing Surabhi's words, was greatly astonished; O Kauravya, he regarded his own son as dearer than his own life. (3-10-17)
प्रववर्ष च तत्रैव सहसा तोयमुल्बणम्। कर्षकस्याचरन्विघ्नं भगवान्पाकशासनः ॥३-१०-१८॥
Then, right there, the revered Indra suddenly caused a heavy rain, creating an obstacle for the farmer. (3-10-18)
तद्यथा सुरभिः प्राह सममेवास्तु ते तथा। सुतेषु राजन्सर्वेषु दीनेष्वभ्यधिका कृपा ॥३-१०-१९॥
Just as Surabhi spoke, so let it be for you as well. O king, among all your sons and especially among the poor, let your compassion be greater. (3-10-19)
यादृशो मे सुतः पण्डुस्तादृशो मेऽसि पुत्रक। विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञः स्नेहादेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥३-१०-२०॥
You are just like my son Pandu, dear child. Vidura too is greatly wise. I say this out of affection. (3-10-20)
चिराय तव पुत्राणां शतमेकश्च पार्थिव। पाण्डोः पञ्चैव लक्ष्यन्ते तेऽपि मन्दाः सुदुःखिताः ॥३-१०-२१॥
O king, for a long time, your hundred and one sons have been seen, and as for Pāṇḍu's sons, only five remain; even they are weak and deeply sorrowful. (3-10-21)
कथं जीवेयुरत्यन्तं कथं वर्धेयुरित्यपि। इति दीनेषु पार्थेषु मनो मे परितप्यते ॥३-१०-२२॥
My mind is tormented with concern for the distressed sons of Pṛthā, thinking, 'How will they live, how will they prosper?' (3-10-22)
यदि पार्थिव कौरव्याञ्जीवमानानिहेच्छसि। दुर्योधनस्तव सुतः शमं गच्छतु पाण्डवैः ॥३-१०-२३॥
O king, if you wish the Kauravas to remain alive here, let your son Duryodhana make peace with the Pāṇḍavas. (3-10-23)
